Connecting-rod for engines.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEMON G. NEELY, FRANK KONLEY, AND CHARLES J. MACOMBER, OF ST. MARYS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR'S, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO MUNOIE GAS ENGINE & SUPPLY 00., OF MUN OIE, INDIANA.

CONNECTING-ROD FOR EN GINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,021, dated July 9, 1901. Application filed February 19, 1901. Seria1No. 48,00l- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, LEMQN G. NEELY FRANK KONLEY, and CHARLES J. MAOOMBER, citizens of the United States, residing at St. Marys, in the county of Auglaize and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Connecting-Rods for Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in connecting-rods particularly adapted for use in connection with gas-engines, although the same is applicable to steam or other engines.

The invention aims to construct a connecting-rod for engines with means for pulling up the brasses or bearings of the cross-head for tighteningthem without disconnecting the piston or crosshead from the engine; furthermore, to enable the keying up of the brasses or bearings outside of the piston when the rod is drawn out from the cylinder of the engine; and to this end the invention consists in mounting upon the back end or upon both ends of the connecting-rod a pair of adjustable straps connected together at one end and engaging the outer brass or bearing, these straps. being adjustable by means of a gib and key, the latter operating through the straps and connecting-rod and retained in the desired position by means of a fasteningscrew.

The invention further aims to construct a connecting-rod for engines which shall be extremely simple in its construction, strong,

durable, and efficient in its use, compara tively inexpensive toset up, and consists of. the novel combination and arrangement of parts herein after more specifically described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a top plan View, partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the straps removed, partly broken away. Fig. 4.

is a top plan view of one of the straps. Fig. 5 is an edge view of one of the straps.

Referring to the drawings by reference-um -merals,l denotes the connecting-rod, which may be of any desirable shape and has its front end formed in a forked or bifurcated manner, as at 2, to receive the brasses or bearings 3 for the pin 4. The brasses or bearings are tightened by means of a key 5, engaging the former,and the block 6,1nounted in the forked or bifurcated end 2'. The forked or bifurcated end 2 is connected together for retaining the brasses, as well as the block, in position by means of the bolt-pin 7 and nut 8. The key 5 is fastened by means of the setscrew 9.

The foregoing is the ordinary construction of'one end and the arrangement of brasses or bearings within the same of a connectingrod for engines, although this end of the rod may be constructed in the same manner as the back endand have mountedthereon the straps for adj nsting the bearings, as hereinafter described, if desired.

The reference-numeral 10 denotes the op posite end of the connecting-rod and which is forked or bifurcated, as shown, and has one side formed with a lubricating-opening 11. The connecting-rod is formed with an opening 12 and a rectangular-shaped slot 13.

The reference numeral 14 denotes the brasses or bearings for the pin 15 and which are adapted to be mounted in the forked or bifurcated end 10. 1

The reference-numerals l6 and 17 denote the adjustable retaining-straps for the brasses or bearings 14 and which are each provided with an enlarged opening 18, through which extends the bolt 19 for slidably securing the straps to the connecting-rod 1. The straps near one end are each provided with the on larged opening 15, through which extends the brasses 14c and pin 15. The bolt 19 extends through the opening 12 of the connecting-rod and is secured in position by the nut 20. The straps l6 and 17 are each provided with a rectangular-shaped slot 21, registering with the slot 13 in the rod 1 and have one end thereof formed with a downwardly-ex tending flange 22, terminating in an out- Ieo wardly-extending apertured lug 23, through The reference-numeral 30 denotes a key having an inclined face 31, engaging the inclined face of the gib and extending through the slots 21 and 13 of the straps and rod, respectively. The rod 1 is further provided with an opening 32, communicating with the slot 13 and in which is mounted the setscrew 33, which is adapted to engage the key 30 for retaining the same in the desired position.

The rod is set up in the following manner to enable the tightening of the brasses or bearings for the pin 15: The straps 1G and 17 are mounted upon the back end or, if desired, bothends of a connecting-rod 1 and retained thereon by means of the bolt 19. The straps being provided with the enlarged opening 18, through which the bolt 19 extends, the former will be permitted to slide upon the end of the connecting-rod when adjusted. Each of the straps extends over the bifurcated end 10 of the connecting-rod and is formed with a flange, each of which engages each other and are connected together by means i of the bolt, as hereinbefore described. By

mounting the straps in the manner so that they extend over the bifurcated end 10 the straps will engage the outer bearing or brass. When the straps are in position, as above set forth, the gib is mounted in the slots 21 and 13, and owing to the gib being provided with offsets or shoulders it will be retained within the slots-that is, the shoulders prevent vertical movement of the gib. The key is then inserted, and the inclined face thereof engages the inclined face of the gib. The key is then fastened in the desired position by means of the set-screw 32.

It will be evident from the foregoing construction that when the brasses or bearings are loose and it is desired to tighten the same all that it is necessary to do is to stop the engine, remove the screw 32, drive the key through the rod, which will draw the straps therewith, and pull up the hearings or brasses, thereby tightening the same. The end of the straps engaging the outer bearings will cause the pulling up or tightening of the brasses or bearings when the key is forced through the connecting-rod.

It will be evident that constructing a rod in the manner set forth the brasses or bearings can be keyed up outside of the piston when the rod is drawn out from the cylinder, overcoming the inconveniences existingin the ordinary manner of tightening the'bearings, which is clearing the cylinder of the piston, removing the wrist-pin, adjusting the bearings or brasses, and then driving the pin back into the head. This also causes considerable trouble at times, as the pin becomes smaller in the center, owing to the wearing thereof. The hearings or brasses being fitted tightly to the key the end of the latter will not pass through the former, and for this reason the brasses or bearings remain loose and will pound.

It will also be evident that in constructing the rod in the manner hereinbefore set forth the thrust side of the hearings or brasses is supported by the very large bearing on the end of the rod, thus doing away entirely with the contact of'the key therewith.

It isthought the many advantages of constructing one end of a connecting-rod in the manner as above set forth for tightening the bearin gs or brasses canbe readily understood from the foregoing description taken in con nection with the accompanying drawings, and it will be noted that various minor changes in the details of construction can be made without departing from the general spirit of our invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In combination, a connecting-rod, bearings mounted in one end thereof, a pair of straps having flanged ends for retaining the bearings to the end of the rod, means for connecting said flanged ends of the straps together, means extending through said straps and rod for slidably connecting the former to the latter, and means extending through said straps and rod for adjusting the former, causing thereby the adjustment of the bearings.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

LEMON G. NEELY. FRANK KONLEY. CHARLES J. MACOMBER.

Witnesses:

HOBART Soorr, CHAS. I-I. KELLY. 

